John w



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Jol-1N w. BAELow, or ERocKToN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIeNoR To o. A. MTLLEE, or SAME PLAGE.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,326, dated September 29, 1896.

I Application filed October 19, 1895. Serial No. 566,208. (No'model.)

.To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BARLow, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tov lasts which are transversely divided and comprise a heel-section and a tore-part section which is movable independently of the heel-section and is pivotally connected thereto so that either of said sections may swin g independently of the other to practically shorten the last and enable a boot or shoe that has been lasted upon it to be readily removed.

The invention has for its object to provide means for yieldingly locking the displaced section in its operative position with sufficient iirmness to prevent its being accidentally displaced and at the same time permit it to yield to the application of such force as may be conveniently applied to displace it prior to the removal of a boot or shoe from the last.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

' Of the accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a longitudinal section of a last provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. l Fig. 3 represents a side elevation, showing my improved last in place upon a spindle engaged with the heelsection. Fig. 4 represents'a sectional view, showing a modification.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the igures.

In the drawings, a represents the heel-section, and b the fore-part section of a last which is transversely divided into two sections, which are pivot-ally connected so that either section can swing or be displaced from its operative position to practically shorten the last and enable the boot or shoe to be readily removed from it. As here shown, the heel-section has a seat or face a and a shoulder a2, bearing, respectively, against a corresponding seat b and shoulder b2 on the forepart section when the last is in its operative position, the two sections being cut away at their upper portions to permit one to swing over the other. In the forward end of the heel-section is formed a narrow slot or recess CL3, which receives a tongue or hinge member c, which is rigidly attached to the heel-section within the slot a2 by studs or bolts c' c'. The hinge member c projects forward from the section c and enters a narrow slot or recess b, formed in the rear portion of the forepart section b. The forward end of the hinge member c is engaged with a pivot pin or stud c2, affixed to the fore-part section and passing through the slot or recess b3.

In carrying out my invention I secure to one of the sections, preferably the heel-section, in any suitable Way a yielding locking device d, which is adapted to yieldingly engage the fore-part section, so that whenthe sections a b are in their operative 'relation to each other they will be retained in said relation With sufficient force to prevent accidental displacement of either part, the locking device being adapted to yield to force, which may be conveniently exerted in moving one section out of its operative relation with the other section.

The locking device is here shown as composed of a resilient strip of metal bent at one end to form an arm d2, which is inserted in a recess cl3, formed in the hinge member c, the locking device being retained in the recess cl3 by the sides of the slot a3, which is so narrow that the locking device cannot move laterally out of said recess. I do not limit myself, however, to this construction and may secure the locking device to the heel-section in any other suitable way.

Near the outer or free end of the locking device is a projection d4, which is adapted to engage a suitable part of the section h, such as a metal pin d', driven into the fore-part section and extending through the slot b3 below the locking device.

It will be seen that when the locking device is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. lits projection d4, engaged with the fore-part section, will resist displacement of either of the sections of the last until sufficient force is applied to one of the sections to cause the locking device to yield.

In Fig. 3 I show' the last in an inverted position on a j ack-spindle. When the last is in IOO this position, the preferred manner of shortenin g it will be by pressingdownward on the fore-part section. shoes the last is usually held upon the spindle, the shoe being applied to the fore-part section while it is depressed, as shown in Fig. 3, so that while the operator is swinging the fore-part section upwardly to place with one hand he can grasp the heel portion of the shoe with the other hand and pull it down over the heel-section before the fore-part section has been swung upwardly far enough to increase the operative length of the last. The locking device is preferably formed to yieldingly hold the sections when one is displaced, as shown in Fig. 8.

I do not limit myself to the described form and construction of the locking device, nor to the described means for hinging or pivotally connecting the two sections of the last.

In Fig. 4 I show a modiiied arrangement of the locking device, whereby it yields downwardly or toward the sole instead of yielding away from the sole, the locking device being designated d5. Two pins d (Z7 are shown in this modification, one to engage the locking device when the sections are in operative relation and the other to engage the locking de vice when one section is displaced.

Instead of the two pins d d? (shown in Fig. 4t) a single piece of the required shape may be used.

I claiml. In a transverse]y-divided last, the come In relasting boots and bination o f the `fore-part andheel sections, a hinge member projecting from one section and engaged with a complemental hinge member within the other section whereby the sections are permanently connected and one is adapted to occupy either a last-lengthening or a last-shortening position relatively to the other, and a yielding lock composed of coinplemental members attached to the two sections and arranged to interlock within the last when the sections are in their last-lengthening position, whereby either section may be displaced togshorten the last by force externally applied.

2. In a transversely-divided last, the combination of the heel-section having a forwardly-projecting hinge member and a slot in which the rear portion of said member is received, a resilient locking arm or member secured to the heel-section in said slot and projecting forward therefrom, and the forepart section having a slot in which said projectin g hinge member is pivoted, and a complemental locking member in said slot arranged to engage the resilient locking member when the last is in its operative condition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of l two subscribing witnesses, this 12th day of October, A. D. 1895.

JOHN XV. BARLOV. lVitnesscs:

E. BATGHELDER, ROLLIN ABELL. 

